cerealkilla

Very little info out there on these, looks like an interesting brand that's still hand made in Italy: https://www.alanbike.it/

I'm going to have a go with an 'ALAN Pro Race Elite'. Anyone have any experience?

jbchybridrider 

If it didn't have "pro race" on it I'd like it.

cerealkilla

I'd agree, tiz not the most photogenic of bikes

IthaDan 

I'd imagine that's a zombie brand on a [semi] generic frame.

himespau 

Is that the same company that made the bikes with aluminum tubes glued to steel lugs in the 80's? For some reason I'd thought those guys were French, so might not be the same folks.

WhyFi

I'm wondering if they took the font straight out of the email that said, "we want it to say, 'PRO RACE,' on the top tube, seat tube and forks."

cerealkilla

Not according to the UK importer https://www.osporto.co.uk/site/ The company is still run and owned as a bespoke handmade and crafted frame makers. They still warranty and stand by there craftsmanship if a problem occurs, which they say is very vary rare.

IthaDan 

Well, I guess I need to get my imagination fixed.

cerealkilla

mebbez; https://www.osporto.co.uk/site/index....n&catid=8:alan

rpenmanparker 

Yeah, I second the notion of the very early glued and screwed aluminum bikes. Of course times change. Could be the same company with updated products or could be the name purchased to be used to market Asian builds like Motobecane.

IthaDan 

A.K.A. a zombie brand.

cerealkilla

A blurb from the UK importers website, listed above: [h=2]Alan[/h]A Historic brand for advanced technology

Since 1972 ALAN has affirmed its place in the cycling sector offering frames and bicycles with exclusive and technology advanced characteristics. ALAN were one of the first frame builders in the world to build frames with alloy and carbon fibre tube sets, by bonding tubes and lugs using a special glue which originated from the aeronautical industry. Today, ALAN remain true to their rich heritage in frame manufacturing and still produce their frames in Italy, with many of their Alloy and Carbon fibre frames being expertly made, allowing for precision builds and custom geometry.

Professional riders achieved great results using ALAN frames on road, track (5 World Championships) and Cyclo Cross (20 World Championships). From the beginning ALAN has been a synonym of Cyclo Cross. Since 1972 they have always offered specific frames with unique characteristis, made to resist the most extreme shocks and conditions, tested and used by great Champions that offered their experience of racing for more constant technical improvements and to become the Cyclo Cross brand the most titled around the World!

The huge experience of ALAN allows them to offer high quality products by the careful measures taken during every phase of production as well as in the methods and instruments used providing an exclusive service to customers. We offer an exclusive service to the client who has the possibility to personalize the frame beginning with the exact measurements, desired colours, optional features, with quick delivery time and guarantee and technical assistance on the products.

Osporto offers the full range of ALAN framesets or complete Bikesets with a range of equipment. With many of their products being expertly hand made to specific order requirements, complete customisation is available for each customer.

Walter

I remember Alans from the 1980s. Them, Vitus, and Guerciotti marketed glued aluminum frames. Obviously, they've changed their process and it's nice to see that they still exist (not like Motobecane, Windsor and I'll even add Masi to that list).

Name is problematic but if the bike is a good deal and you want it, go for it and have fun.

tangerineowl

I like it. Looks similar to some Casati's.

cerealkilla

I like its crafted looks also. Frame on offer is a display 2012 'elite' which has an RRP of Ł2500. Lets just say the deal is too sweet to ignore :-)..... I'll basically swap what I can from my Cinelli full Carbon Centaur and Zonda 2ways to the new frame then sell what's left and hopefully not have spent much!!

hamiltonian

Is Masi just a bought name now, too? I didn't know that.

Walter

Debatable and I'll admit many don't agree with me. Faliero(sp?) Masi was one of the biggest names in the 70s. Built frames for most of the greats of the 60s and 70s and their bikes were considered amongst the very best. They came to California (from Italy) and continued to produce high quality bikes. Then the Cal. company closed and after a long series of legal bouts the name "Masi" was bought and bikes are sold under that name. I understand many of them to be high quality. However, the Masi family cannot use their name on bikes in America. As someone who lusted after a Masi in the 70s and still trolls eBay from time to time looking for a "real" one I have a hard time swallowing this situation.

May well be my problem but it is what it is.

hamiltonian

This leads me to wonder if they still make bikes. I'm in Canada, so who makes the Masi bikes I see in shops here?

Walter

My understanding is the Masi family markets under the name Milano 3V. The Masi name is owned by Haro in the US. I think they market in Canada too. Like I said, their bikes are good maybe even excellent and they legally own the name so it's just some retro-grouches like me who whine about "real Masis."

cerealkilla

Sounds similar to the Cervelo story/history IIRC.

cerealkilla

This is the frame in question, as you can see it looks better in these pics than the one above:

Walter

They've changed from their days of thin skinny tubed glued aluminum frames to be sure. Have fun!

JohnDThompson 

No; "Vitus" was the French bonded aluminum frame. "Alan" was the Italian "screwed & glued" aluminum frame.

ThinLine

+1, thats what I thought also, the ones that basically fell apart on any strenuous uphill or sprint. Not a very good legacy.

Walter

JohnDThompson got it right a post above you. While the Vitus and Alan frames were very flexy they actually won more than a few Pro races under some very talented riders in the 1980s.